Sporting Life
FA Cup best bets

FA Cup third round predictions, tips, best bets and previews

By Sporting Life
16:30 · SUN January 08, 2023

The FA Cup third round sees Premier League teams enter the fray this weekend, and Sporting Life's tipsters picks out several best bets from selected matches.

Football betting tips: FA Cup

1.5pts Manchester City to win with -1 goal handicap v Chelsea at 11/10 (General)

0.5pts Carl Piergianni to score anytime in Aston Villa v Stevenage at 22/1 (SBK)

  • Selected tips only - read full match previews for all selections

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

Aston Villa v Stevenage

Read James Cantrill's (@JimmythePunt) full preview here

No doubt Stevenage boss Steve Evans will deploy a low block here, probably in a 5-3-2 formation, and look to contain and counter - in fact, they may not even counter, just try and play for set-pieces, the ultimate leveller.

His team, as with most Evans sides, are very effective from dead-ball situations. They rank second in Sky Bet League Two for set-piece shots generated (109) and third for xG (7.54), scoring eight times.

Given his recent form, CARL PIERGIANNI looks worth a punt to SCORE ANYTIME.

The central defender has scored four goals this campaign, three coming in his last two appearances.

Piergianni has only failed to register a shot in five of his 23 league starts, having 40 attempts in total.

Score prediction: Aston Villa 0-1 Stevenage (Sky Bet odds: 33/1)

Odds correct at 1500 GMT (06/01/23)

Manchester City v Chelsea

Read Liam Kelly's (@LiamKellyTAA) full preview here

Although teams are likely to be somewhat rotated for this marquee FA Cup third round match-up, clues can be taken from City's 1-0 victory on Thursday (xG: CHE 0.65 - 1.75 MCI).

Firstly, Chelsea's already extensive injury list is longer after multiple players were withdrawn before and during the Stamford Bridge fixture, leaving them a little thin heading into this game.

Secondly, despite a rather underwhelming first half, Manchester City were by far the better side for much of the game, showing spells of usual dominance in the narrow win.

Substitutions undoubtedly made a difference, a show of strength from a squad full of depth. With that in mind on the short turnaround, MANCHESTER CITY TO WIN WITH -1 GOAL HANDICAP makes appeal.

Score prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Chelsea (Sky Bet odds: 10/1)

Odds correct at 1515 GMT (06/01/23)

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